Travelers should be alert for various overnight lane closures northbound and southbound on Interstate 81 near Staunton in mid-July.
The lane closures will involve left lane closures for some nights and full directional closures on other dates. Work begins on Tuesday, July 15.
The traffic restrictions allow contractors to place concrete beams for the widening of northbound and southbound I-81 bridges over Lewis Creek near mile marker 225.
Tuesday and Wednesday nights, July 15-16:
The northbound I-81 left lane will be closed from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. for staging equipment and materials, followed by beam placement.
Wednesday and Thursday nights, July 23-24:
Southbound I-81 will be closed from 11 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for staging equipment and materials, followed by beam placement.
Traffic will detour off southbound I-81 at exit 225 and follow Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) south around Staunton. Motorists will rejoin the interstate at exit 220.
Digital message signs will advise motorists of the northbound lane closures and southbound detours.
All work is weather permitting and the schedule is subject to change.
A total of five bridges are being widened to accommodate a third northbound and southbound lane on I-81 between exit 221 (I-64 interchange) and exit 225 (Route 262 north). The Staunton-area widening is part of the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP).
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in March 2023 awarded a $101 million design-build contract to Kokosing Construction Company Inc. of Westerville, Ohio. Completion is scheduled for summer 2027. Additional information about the I-81 Staunton-area widening is on the VDOT project page.
The $3 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects plus operational improvements along I-81 in Virginia to enhance safety, reduce congestion and unlock the region for further economic growth. More information is available online with interactive maps, videos and podcasts, and details about upcoming and current projects.
Other major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include:
Weyers Cave-area truck-climbing lanes (under construction)
Strasburg-area southbound widening (under construction)
Harrisonburg-area widening (construction starts in 2026)
Winchester-area widening (construction starts in 2028)
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Rebecca Barnabi
